| Well, we've done a lot since I first entered this, and I just
looked over the replies.
First, I have to say that I realized in my mind that I was going
to deal with a clean slate, but now I really really really (can't
say that enough times!) appreciate it! I have had a number of
problem horses - from auctions, private sales, whatever - with
serious problems that I've worked and worked on and finally gotten
them manageable. And that was good. But I can't believe how nice
it is to not have to do that; it's like a headache - feels soooooo
good when it stops!
I just looked this over and realized I do go on and on and on. So
you can stop here if you want! Our training method was slow and easy,
instill no fears, be partners, ask and she should be willing to give -
no force or roughness. This isn't for every person or every horse, but
I set my goal at having her go to her first show next fall, so I knew
I had 7 or 8 months to do everything. I then could be patient. Anyhow,
you'll think, when you read some of this "Oh yeah? Well I did that
in 2 weeks, not a month", or "I got perfectly good results this other
way." I know this isn't the only way; just like everything, there are
many many methods that work for different situations. But this is the
way my trainer and I decided to go, and I am loving every minute of it!
And the results have been good.
My trainer told me Cat was one of the easiest horses she's had to
train, so my experiences with her are not necessarily what you'd
expect with just any horse. In fact, I've helped her with 2 others,
since, one of which was very bad, and one which was normal. But here's
the gist of what I've learned:
1. Expose them to anything and everything you can. The sooner the
better. Then it's old hat to them.
2. Do things in SMALL doses. Their attention span is very short; they
get tired quickly; they can't soak much in at once.
3. Don't expect much from each session alone; but once they've thought
about something, you can see the results from the last session in
the next one.
4. If they're going to react strongly to something, it's not necessarily
the first time they encounter it. You can put a saddle on them one
night, and they just stand there - the next night they might try
to get rid of it!
5. When you do something with them that they might react to - e.g.
bridle, saddle, girth, rider - keep their body bent so the head
is curved toward you. When then react, move them in a circle around
you. If they get their shoulder in, they've then got control.
6. Look at their eyes - their ears might go back or flick or whatever,
but their eyes will tell you how they feel - a glazed look means
trouble brewing!
7. Sit deep and hold long...forget position and equitation! Feet as
far down and a little forward as possible; butt deep in the saddle.
And I can't tell you how many times the yoke saved me and the horse.
That's the around-the-neck piece of a standing martingale. I'd hold
it with one of the hands I held the reins. If she did something quick,
that gave me a good hold without jerking on her mouth.
8. Don't get excited! If they do something stupid, just continue on.
If they spook, just push them back into the walk or trot and in the
direction you were going in. Don't make a big thing out of it.
9. Of course, always be calm, soothing, quiet, easy - no rough stuff;
But firm.
10. Once you start, keep going for about 30 days, try not to miss a
few days in a row. They forget. That big head means big sinuses,
not big brains... (no, not 30 days, 24 hours a day - once a day -
although there were times I felt like I was there 24 hours a day.
Some of the things we did were:
Lots of work in the stall, at first; bonding! Brushing, showing her
things like the saddle, saddle pad, bridle; that carrots were treats,
making her stand still while I brushed her, rubbing her with blankets
and saddle pad; touching her with the saddle; walking all around her,
behind her, lifting her feet, pulling her mane. These things became
really familiar and commonplace to her.
Going for walks, early on, too. Into the indoor arena where people
were riding and jumping and just sitting around - showing her all the
things she was going to do! Telling her to ignore horses that were
being naughty...yeah, right...She whizzed around on the end of her lead
at first, but it got to the point where we could stand facing the end
of a 3 and a half foot jump from about 4 feet away and watch horses
canter to them and jump them! Horses could pass us close from in front
or behind. We could stand next to them. This is all in prep for being
in a show ring with others.
Walks down the driveway, around the fields; she's going to be a trail
horse, too! I'm still on foot all this time. So we don't get bored, I
lay rails on the ground about 3 and a half feet apart and trot her
over them, in hand. She picked up on that pretty quick, and when I
finally did get on her, she breezed right through it later. I led her
over to the mounting block, patted her from up there, leaned on the
saddle - oh - and all this time, I had her bridle over her halter, no
noseband, and no reins at first - just getting used to a rubber d-ring
snaffle. After about the second time, she pretty much ignored it. So
then I could lead her around by the lead rope and halter.
When you put the saddle on, slap the flaps against themselves to make
noise. The girth should be tight enough so the saddle doesn't slip,
but certainly not tight enough to ride. You should easily be able
to get your hand under it. When it first goes on, take the lead off
and get out of the stall - a few crow-hops now are normal.
I can't remember the time lines, here, but she was pretty broke by the
end of March; I was riding by the end of January, but it wasn't pretty!
I was the first person to get on her; the important person in this deal
is the ground person. You go up quick and land easy on your thighs -
don't put your feet in the stirrups until you feel their muscles stop
quiver. Lay your legs along side, but no kicking.
During all of this stuff, a big "sigh" from them is really good - put
the bit in, wait for a sigh. First time the saddle goes on, wait for
a sigh. Lots of rubbing, head and ears before putting the bridle on
is good for 2 things - they get used to you touching them there, so the
bridle isn't the first time; they get to like it, and you can do lots
more to take their minds off whatever new it is you're doing now! First
time you put weight on, wait for a sigh.
So, you're on - just sit quiet - don't shift. Talk talk talk talk - they
are REALLY curious about who it is up there - sometimes they try to
turn and look up at you to see what the HECK it is you're doing. That's
good. If their neck goes stiff and solid, and their eyes glaze, they
are quivering, and no sigh - you'd best get off while you can of your
own free will. Wait a bit, til they sigh (!) and try again.
If there's any excitement now, that's when the ground person has to
keep them bent, and move them forward and in a circle around themself.
You just sit still and stay on - lean in if you have to - they have NO
balance yet.
So, next day, they may have thought about all this, and decide they're
going to get rid of you before you get to land on their back. Fun.
But if they don't, your ground person can then lead you around. Just
a few minutes - and you can manipulate the reins while the ground person
is actually controlling the horse. For example, "whoa" is a good thing
to do right away. You pull back gently but the ground person stops them
with the lead & halter (still on). They lead left, you move the left
rein - opening rein - no finesse yet. Same with right.
Pat them from up there a lot - neck and withers. We waited a little
bit before patting the rump - about the same time we did "forward"
with the feet. Just a little kick - sides of feet are better than heels
because you can make more noise, but it doesn't have the potential to
bruise as easily. So then if you have to kick a little more, a little
harder, use the insides of your feet. So you do a little kick and the
ground person leads them off.
Next lesson (or two if they need to do this again) - have the ground
person just hold the lead while you control them. If this works out
okay, you can move on to going without a lead. You may need them to
lead until the "hump" goes out of the horse's back (they've relaxed,
when they let down the hump), then you can have them disconnect it
and you can go on your own.
For as long as you want, get help mounting. Once they learn they
can skit out from under you, it takes a bit to get them to stand
quietly again. The longer, the safer, the better.
My trainer told me many times - never give them the opportunity
to do a bad thing - e.g. make sure the arena gates or doors are
always closed, get help mounting, start with a leader, don't have
any junk around they can get on, don't get too close to another
horse, etc etc. Just avoid potential trouble. Sounds like the
Monks of New Skeet, eh?
You're on your own, keep hold of the yoke, and keep them going
forward. The yoke gives you a hold and helps you keep the reins
short enough that they can't get their head down far enough to
buck. If they don't go forward, sides of the feet flapping, arms
flapping, legs flapping, growling, yelling (this is you) all in
increasing amounts until it's enough, will help. You're serious,
they don't get to make the decisions.
Oh, yeah - it seemed after a few sessions, each at a different point,
each horse decided it was all trained and knew what to do and was now
going to make the decisions. Weird..."I trot off now", "I stop now",
"I go faster now" - and I was very concious of not getting into the
habit of doing the same thing over and over. So I don't know where
they got it. But it was pretty funny.
Well, this isn't all - we're jumping 2 ft, straight down lines and
small courses out in the field, now. We can go on short trail rides
by ourselves - not too far away, yet - but with friends, we can go
farther. But I've put in more than you ever wanted to hear, I'm
sure!
It's been fun; we're working with a horse that's going to the race
track, now - once he can walk, trot and canter in both directions
under a rider. My trainer's mare just had a baby and I cant' wait
til he's 2! I really like this baby thing! But, I was lucky that she
was so easy.
-j
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